David Pietras - A Texas Style Witch Hunt Justice Denied The Darlie Lynn Routier Story

Justice Denied

Copyright 2013 by David Pietras

All rights reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in anyform or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or otherelectronic or mechanical methods, without the prior writtenpermission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotationsembodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial usespermitted by copyright law.

Cover design by David Pietras

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Preface

Darlie Lynn Routier

In 1997, a court found Darlie Lynn Routierguilty of probably the worst of human crimes: killing two of hernatural children in cold-blood. Motive is still a mystery, but theprosecution painted her as a shrewish, materialistic young womanwho, sensing her lavish lifestyle crumbling, slew her two sonsDamon and Devon in a mad attempt to resuscitate her and herhusband's personal economy.

The following story relates the events of themurder and those leading up to her sensational trial, resulting inher conveyance to death row in Dallas, where she awaits deaththrough lethal injection. The evidence against Darlie was damagingand, in retrospect, her defending counsel had little hope for heracquittal.

But, recent findings in her case have cast adoubt over her guilt at least over the legalities that brought herthumbs down to death row. Therefore, the final chapter in thisreport is dedicated to the most recent controversy that may resultin a new trial for Darlie Lynn Routier.

Blonde, hazel-eyed Darlie was born inAltoona, Pennsylvania, on January 4, 1970, the first-born child ofDarlie and Larry Peck. Doted on as a child, her first encounterwith the harshness of life occurred at seven years old, when herparents divorced and the domestic security she knew tilted. A yearlater, her mother remarried a man named Dennis Stahl and, as Darlieentered her teens, the family moved to the vastly different climateof Lubbock, Texas.

Darlie-First Grade

Darlie Routier was in first grade when this schoolphoto was taken

Little Darlie and her siblings two naturaland two step sisters got on together well and helped each otherthrough the difficult transition of hometowns and schools. Thetoughest part of their young lives was having to endure theirparents' constant squabbling and sometimes violent fighting.Eventually, the Stahl's marriage faded and Darlie's mother was onceagain in search of a new spouse and her girls were without a fatherfigure. As Darlie entered her teens, the family moved to the vastlydifferent climate of Lubbock, Texas.

Darlie at prom

Darlie Routier poses at her senior prom in Lubbockin 1987, when the future seemed full of promise.

She had met Darin in a Western Sizzlin' whereher mother worked and so did Darin as a cook. The mother found hima bright, talkative good-looking boy with ambitious plans for hisfuture; he would be, she figured, a good catch for her oldestdaughter. Playing matchmaker, she introduced the two kids and byall reports it was love at first sight for both of them. Thedark-haired tall boy with wavy hair flipped for thefive-foot-three, heart-faced Lubbock belle with the big eyes. Andshe, in turn, for him.

Darin and Darlie in photo booth

Darin Routier and Darlie Peck were dating when thisphoto was snapped.

They dated in high school and continued tocorrespond after Darin, two years older than she, went away to atechnical college in Dallas. A preface of things to come occurredat Darin's going-away party. There, according to a friend named,Darlie showed a possessive and cunning nature that lay hidden underher surface sweetness. Darlie was annoyed that she wasn't gettingenough attention, so she left the party. Then she came backfrantic, claiming that someone had tried to rape her. That rusegave her just the attention that she craved.

Darin and Darlie formal portrait

A young Darin and Darlie Routier posed for thisphoto in the late 1980s.

After graduating high school, Darlie joinedher boyfriend in Dallas where he had been hired as a technician ata computer chip company. Landing a job with the same firm, thecouple lived together while saving their money until, in August of1988, they married. The couple honeymooned first-class inJamaica.

After moving to the Dallas area he began hisown small company that tested electronic components and when hebecame a success in the early nineties they bought a nice house andspent thousands getting it just how they wanted. Darin bought athirty-foot cabin cruiser and a 1982 Jaguar. They went a littlewild with their money and Darlie bought new boobs and flashyjewelry.

The company that Darin started was calledTestnec. In 2013 at the time of the writing of this story Testnecis located in Lubbock, TX. It is still categorized under ElectronicParts and Equipment; county records show that this company hasannual revenue of $75,000.

Trouble in Paradise

Their first child was born on June 14, 1989 ahealthy boy named Devon Rush to be followed by another son onFebruary 19, 1991 Damon Christian. With two children and a homecompany that grew so fast that the owners found it necessary to buyspace in an upscale office building, the Routiers' life seemed tobe following the quality dream of the new American family.

Devon and Damon Routier

By 1992, their company had earned them asmall fortune. The up-and-coming couple yearned to practice theprestige due them and had a house built in Dalrock HeightsAddition, an affluent suburb of Rowlett, adjacent to Lake RayHubbard. This community of upper-class businessmen and womenbragged crime-free streets and happy families.

The $130,000 two-story home of Georgiandesign resembled a miniature mansion with classic porch, colonialshutters and a working fountain on the front lawn.

5801 Eagle Drive

Complementing their new life, the familyboasted a Jaguar, sitting waxed and gleaming in a circulardriveway.

Routier family

Darlie was happy. And she was a very goodmother, doting on her two children, living to celebrate the goodtimes with them. At Christmas, their house was the most illumined,at Halloween their windows displayed more goblins than any other,at Thanksgiving the Routier's turkey was the largest and mostflavorful. On the children's birthdays, Darlie threw gorgeousparties inviting classmates for an afternoon of frolic in theirspacious entertainment center.